Landry Jones would have been a first round pick in the 2012 NFL draft. That’s the feedback the Oklahoma quarterback said he received when he asked to be evaluated.

Despite that, Jones chose to return to the Sooners. He wants to be an All-American and a Heisman Trophy finalist. He also wants to be a better football player, which starts with him being more precise and having better mobility.

Landry Jones' 2011 touchdown pass total was down from 2010, but some of that had to do with Blake Bell stealing snaps in the Bell-dozer formation near the end zone. (AP Photo)

The Oklahoman talked to Jones and coach Bob Stoops about what kinds of things Jones is working on this spring. He already has more than 12,000 passing yards in his career and 93 touchdowns. So, the grade for his work goes well beyond numbers.

“I believe it’s a great advantage, just the leadership, the poise, being able to hopefully avoid the really poor plays that put you in bad positions with turnovers,” Stoops told The Oklahoman. “Hopefully there’s increased precision and execution. That’s what you usually get with a more mature and experienced quarterback.”

When it comes to mobility, there is more work on the field than in the film room.

“It comes with practice,” Jones said. “(Quarterbacks coach Josh Heupel) is doing a good job putting us through some stuff.”

Jones admits he wasn’t quite ready to let go of being a college player, either. He replaced Sam Bradford and has been entrenched since.

“I knew what I wanted to do,” Jones told the Oklahoman about his decision to return. “I prayed about it, felt good about it. There are some things I want to accomplish, some goals. I just wanted to be back, really enjoy my senior year, my teammates, this team and being a Sooner for one more year.”